MARKET GARDEN PRODUCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9164, 20 September 1888, Page 5

MARKET GARDEN PRODUCE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COTIRESPONDKNT.] Wellington, Wednesday. Letters have been received by the Government from Mr. Ormond, covering enclosures describing a sort, of blight that has destroyed the cabbages, turnips, and green crops of several Napier settlers. The curious feature of this correspondence is the admitted statement that while the gardens of tho Europeans have been devastated by this blight, the green crops of John Chinaman have flourished. I remember something of the kind happening many years ago in Auckland, and 1 learn that in the Wairarapa not long since complaints of i\ similar character Mere made. Tho matter has bei'ii referred to L'rofeasov Kirk, who forwarded his report to the Minister of Lands to-day. As the same complaint may be heard in Auckland, and the report is most interesting to settlers, I forward it to you by permission of the Minister for Lands. The report, is headed "The Diamond Back Turnip and Cabbage Moth (Tin-a. Xylosttlla), ,, and irto the following efleet :— "This insect is plentiful from the middl" of spring to nearly midwinter. It cam , under my notice in tho Wellington Province about nine years ago. The damage is don by the. larva , , which feed on cabbagecauliflowers, turnips, etc. They are ii shape like a small spindle, very soft, of . beautiful green or yellowish-green colour with grey head. They work behind . delicate web. and can drop to the ground, r> suspend themselves by spinning a very del; cate film. 1. have seen," .says Proft\-si>: Kirk, "whole gardens destroyed by them. ! have counted from 112 to 170 on one cal. bage leaf. The superior wings of the mot! are long and narrow, inferior wings lance shaped, with long fringe ; length, three t< four lines. But this insect- i.s itself preyc upon by a parasite, which becomes a fly. When the cocoon of the diamond moth is of brown colour it contains one of these parasites.' . As regards the gardens cultivated by the Celestials, Professor Kirk says it is asserted that Chinamen can grow cabbages in spite of this pest, while the European gardener fails. The reasons are obvious to anyone who watches the Celestials. The bed is sprinkled with lime to keep off slugs as well as grubs. This sprinkling is repeated several times as the seedlings advance. They are carefully examined and: dusted with lime. Professor Kirk adds, within three years of the first appearance of this pes! the gardens of Europeans, and Cliinr.se were nearly devastated by it, but the Chinese, by careful watching and the use of lime, have got their gardens nearly free from it.